Freddy Flippers and Start Button Stopped Working

[Fatsquatch]

I turn Freddy on for a little playtime, and discover that neither the flippers or start button are working. (I verified this by pressing the Menu button -- trying to navigate or select an option.)

Don't know if it's related, but I noticed that the game lost its freeplay setting, as the DMD no longer displays that freeplay is enabled (it simply reports zero credits). Also, trying to coin-up with a token doesn't work.

I checked all the fuses under the playfield, and didn't find anything blown.

What gives, pinball experts?

 

[tomdotcom]

Sounds to me like your batteries are dead. Or you have corrosion on them. So it reset the settings back to factory. So you have to coin up to make the start button work.

hit the coin switch with your finger...does it give you credits? Once you have credits the start button will work...

Usually you can't flip the flippers until a game starts...

 

[Fatsquatch]

hit the coin switch with your finger...does it give you credits?

Nope. Doesn't do a thing.

And I noticed that my high scores are still saved. If the battery's toast, shouldn't they be gone?

 

[tomdotcom]

Yep they would be gone if the batteries went...

Did you put it back to freeplay? What happened then? Nothing still?

 

[Fatsquatch]

I can't put it on freeplay. Flipping the tournament switch off and on doesn't bring up the menu for the freeplay option like it used to.

Pressing the Menu button DOES bring up the menu on the DMD, but I can't navigate or select anything as the flippers aren't doing a thing. :-(

 

[RLEVIN]

I can't put it on freeplay. Flipping the tournament switch off and on doesn't bring up the menu for the freeplay option like it used to.

Pressing the Menu button DOES bring up the menu on the DMD, but I can't navigate or select anything as the flippers aren't doing a thing. :-(

you can call my tech Monday if you want he can fix it for you. Or go to his repair forum choochoopinball.com.

 

[Fatsquatch]

you can call my tech Monday if you want he can fix it for you. Or go to his repair forum choochoopinball.com.

Thanks, but I believe I've found the source of the problem.

I checked the continuity on all the fuses, and sure enough, found one that was indeed bad -- despite looking okay. After I replace that fuse tomorrow, hopefully everything will be A-OK.

As Lloyd Olson reminded me over at rec.games.pinball, its not good enough to check your fuses with just your eyes.

I'm new to owning pinballs, but have been collecting vids long enough to know better. Duh.

 

[RLEVIN]

It is a love hate thing for sure. If you have anymore problems pinballs are Ricky's thing. He is very good at explaining how to fix. Don't forget his repair forum that he checks several times a day also. choochoopinball.com

 

[tomdotcom]

Nice of you to offer your tech's help Dale. I might just need some help someday. RGP is great usually. But the more sources of tech help we have at our fingertips the better

 

[Steelhorse]

It is a love hate thing for sure. If you have anymore problems pinballs are Ricky's thing. He is very good at explaining how to fix. Don't forget his repair forum that he checks several times a day also. choochoopinball.com

Thats good to know thanks, also you have to register with them to check out the forums correct? As I just checked it out and it had nothing in the forums section, there pinball sales were a bit pricey 3K for a Funhouse pinball WOW! Hey Jaded, hope you get it working brother good luck!

 

[RLEVIN]

Thats good to know thanks, also you have to register with them to check out the forums correct? As I just checked it out and it had nothing in the forums section, there pinball sales were a bit pricey 3K for a Funhouse pinball WOW! Hey Jaded, hope you get it working brother good luck!

I now registering is a pain in the ass and I ask the people who did our site why it is that way and if I can change it. Well they said if I did not have people register it would be full of spam. I do not know the connection there but I quess they are right. As for me getting some huge email list that is not me nor do I have time to spam everyone who registers. It is hard for me to just find time to update our site. The Funhouse you are talking about is sold and I have not marked sold. It did sell for 2700.00 to a lady out in LA. I have a lot of people looking for Funhouse pins and they are willing to spend 3 grand on one so if you want to sell yours let me know and I can get you top dollar for it.

 

[Lindsey]

Nice of you to offer your tech's help Dale. I might just need some help someday. RGP is great usually. But the more sources of tech help we have at our fingertips the better

RGP is going to be at least 10x better than an individual tech. There are more than 10x the people who are more qualified. Hell... you get the people who designed the game some of the time. I can guarantee Ricky won't tell you anything you won't learn on RGP. I'm not going to tell you anything you won't learn on RGP either.

EDIT: On here or RGP you'll get an answer within minutes... not days.

 

[Lindsey]

I now registering is a pain in the ass and I ask the people who did our site why it is that way and if I can change it. Well they said if I did not have people register it would be full of spam. I do not know the connection there but I quess they are right. As for me getting some huge email list that is not me nor do I have time to spam everyone who registers. It is hard for me to just find time to update our site. The Funhouse you are talking about is sold and I have not marked sold. It did sell for 2700.00 to a lady out in LA. I have a lot of people looking for Funhouse pins and they are willing to spend 3 grand on one so if you want to sell yours let me know and I can get you top dollar for it.

You won't get any spam if you allow people to READ the forum and not post. That's what KLOV does. Maybe people would actually start using it.

 

[tomdotcom]

Ya I doubt I'd ever use his site anyhow, just saying it could be a good resource for someone...

I use RGP all the time. Great group of people

I also help people out there whenever I can as well. Not that I have a whole ton of knowledge like yourself. But I do have some hands on experience now

 

[Lindsey]

Ya I doubt I'd ever use his site anyhow, just saying it could be a good resource for someone...

I use RGP all the time. Great group of people

I also help people out there whenever I can as well. Not that I have a whole ton of knowledge like yourself. But I do have some hands on experience now

I agree that it could be a good resource but currently it's not. Take a look for yourself.

 

[RLEVIN]

I agree that it could be a good resource but currently it's not. Take a look for yourself.

What would you do to change it? What would make it better for the avg. hobbist or the new guy. And you are right I to have to log in to view and I hate it. The web company said if I take of the registering I would hate it.

 

[Lindsey]

What would you do to change it? What would make it better for the avg. hobbist or the new guy. And you are right I to have to log in to view and I hate it. The web company said if I take of the registering I would hate it.

I'm glad you're asking for criticism rather than assuming I'm just breaking your balls

The first thing to understand is that it's going to take a while for the thing to grow. Especially with RGP, KLOV and many other resources already available.

The next thing I would suggest is that your tech spend more time checking it and give more detailed answers to questions. That is what people are going to get elsewhere so that's what they're going to expect from you... and that's what you're going to need to be competitive. I took a look at it today and there are some old posts with no replies. I understand he's probably busy and you don't want to pay him a lot for something you're giving away for free but that's what it will take to be successful.

Being able to read the forum without logging in will also help. You'll start getting a lot more people finding your site through search engines. I'm sure a ton of people found KLOV that way. Your web people should be able to configure that for you.

Those are just my opinions...

 

[RLEVIN]

You are right on all. I will start tomorrow and get it changed. Make sure to keep checking and give me some feedback. I now have 2 techs and the one that just hired on is a old time EM guy so we should be able to help on both ends. I want to make my site not just a place where some of you can buy parts and I know none of you will every buy machines which is fine but also where you can go for a answer to a question or a part you are looking for. Good or bad your input I would like to know. I will make sure to make it more user friendly
Thanks

 

[Fatsquatch]

No luck on the Freddy.

With a new fuse in the F6 position ("Controlled Lamps & Switches"), the game seems back to normal on startup. However, after being on for a couple seconds, the coil that kicks up the ball in Freddy's head activates, and when it does, the fuse gets blown.

A Google search on this issue brought me to this thread, which mentions:

I have had 3 freddies with the same problem (i guess its common on
these) & all 3 times it was either the 74ls chip or the mosfet
transistor that controls it....

I think your problem resides on the driver board.

So, yeah... I guess it aint gonna be as simple as replacing a fuse. Bummer, that.

 

[Fatsquatch]

Any ideas as to what my next move should be? Should I be replacing the A-5195 coil on the upkicker under Freddy's head?

The coil functions (it'll kick a ball out if one's there), but its activation is what blows the fuse every time.